Introduction to Surface EMG in Biomechanics

Wartenweiler Memorial Lecture
(The International Society for Biomechanics) 5 July 1993

THE USE OF SURFACE ELECTROMYOGRAPHY
IN BIOMECHANICS
Carlo J. De Luca
NeuroMuscular Research Center, Boston University

Reprinted, by permission, from C. J. De Luca, 1997, “The use of surface electromyography in biomechan-
ics”, Journal of Applied Biomechanics, 13 (2): 135-163.

CONTENTS
ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................... 2
INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................. 3
FACTORS AFFECTING THE EMG SIGNAL AND FORCE PRODUCED BY A MUSCLE .............. 5
DETECTION AND PROCESSING OF THE EMG SIGNAL .................................................... 10
THE ACTIVATION TIMING OF MUSCLES......................................................................... 12
THE FORCE / EMG SIGNAL RELATIONSHIP .................................................................. 17
THE EMG SIGNAL AS A FATIGUE INDEX ...................................................................... 25
SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS .............................................................................. 32
SUMMARY OF PROBLEMS FOR RESOLUTION................................................................. 34
ISSUES FOR INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT .................................................................... 36
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................................ 37

© DelSys Incorporated 1

INTRODUCTION TO SURFACE EMG ABSTRACT

ABSTRACT
The lecture will explore the various uses of Surface Electromyography in the field of Biomechanics.
Three groups of applications are considered; those involving: 1) the activation timing of muscles, 2) the
force/EMG signal relationship, and 3) the use of the EMG signal as a fatigue index. The discussion begins
with a review of the technical considerations for recording the EMG signal with maximal fidelity and a
compendium of all known factors which affect the information contained in the EMG signal. These rela-
tional effects are continuously analyzed throughout the discussion to assist in explaining the relevant con-
cerns about the inferences that can be drawn from the analysis of the signal. Five cardinal questions are
posed to guide the practitioner in the proper use of Surface Electromyography. Sixteen recommendations
are made to provide assistance for the proper detection, analysis and interpretation of the EMG signal and
measured force. Sixteen outstanding problems, which in my view, present the greatest challenges to the
advancement of Surface Electromyography are put forward for consideration. Finally, a plea is made for
arriving at an international agreement on procedures commonly in use in the fields of Electromyography
and Biomechanics.


INTRODUCTION TO SURFACE EMG INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION
Electromyography is a seductive muse because it provides easy access to physiological processes that
cause the muscle to generate force, produce movement and accomplish the countless functions which
allow us to interact with the world around us. The current state of Surface Electromyography is enigmatic.
It provides many important and useful applications, but it has many limitations which must be understood,
considered and eventually removed so that the discipline is more scientifically based and less reliant on the
art of use. To its detriment, electromyography is too easy to use and consequently too easy to abuse.
The scope of this paper is not to review past contributions to the advancement of electromyography in bio-
mechanics. Many in this room have contributed to that chronicle. Instead this discussion will focus on the
complex and interrelated factors that underlie the relationship between the electromyographic (EMG) sig-
nal and the force produced by a muscle. Many intricate issues will be raised for the purpose of identifying
the intrinsic complexity of the relationship. It is hoped that this discussion will serve to raise the level of
awareness of the usefulness and limitations of the EMG signal/force relationship so that practitioners will
clear the pitfalls and direct the applications to those areas where the use can be beneficial.
When EMG signal and force measurements are made, there are five cardinal questions (and related sub-
questions) that the investigator should consider to be assured of proper usage:
1) Is the EMG signal detected and recorded with maximum fidelity? i) What are the configuration, dimen-
sion and electrical characteristics of the electrode unit? 2) How should the EMG signal be analyzed? i)
How are the initiation and cessation times of the EMG signal measured? ii) What are the preferred param-
eters for measuring the amplitude of the EMG signal? iii) What are the preferred parameters for measuring
the frequency spectrum? 3) Where does the detected EMG signal originate? i) Is there any crosstalk?
That is, does any of the detected signal originate from nearby muscles? ii) Where is the electrode placed
on the surface of the muscle in relation to its anatomical structures? iii) How much fatty tissue is there
between the electrode and the muscle surface? 4) Is the EMG signal sufficiently stationary for the intended
analysis and interpretation? i) Is the muscle changing length during the contraction? ii) Is the activation
pattern of the motor units stable? That is, are some motor units alternating between the state of recruitment
and derecruitment? 5) Where does the measured force originate? i) What is the state of the synergistic and
antagonistic muscles associated with the task? ii) Are the motor control characteristics of the contraction
stable for the intended interpretation? Is there any change in the relative force contribution among muscles
during the contraction? iii) Is the force generated homogeneously throughout the muscle?
All these factors are important, albeit to different extents, depending on the particular situation requiring
consideration. Of the above factors, the issue dealing with the electrode and the type of muscle contraction
are the ones which can be addressed most directly and with the greatest success, although even the con-
cerns over these issues cannot be completely dissipated by known technology and knowledge of anatomy.
Nonetheless, judicious applications of known facts can assure the fidelity of the EMG signal, reduce
crosstalk and provide sufficient stationarity in the signal; normalization of the signal amplitude may
remove the influence of many other variables. In biomechanics there are three applications which domi-
nate the use of the surface EMG signal: its use as an indicator for the initiation of muscle activation, its
relationship to the force produced by a muscle, and its use as an index of the fatigue processes occurring
within a muscle. As an indicator of the initiation of the activity in the muscle, the signal can provide the
timing sequence of one or more muscles performing a task, such as during gait or in the maintenance of
erect posture. Another important application of the EMG signal is to provide information about the force
contribution of individual muscles as well as groups of muscles. It is the use in the individual muscle
which provides the greater attraction. The resultant muscular moment acting on a joint during a specific
task is only in exceptionally rare cases due to one muscle. (The interosseous muscles of the hand, the
flexor pollicis longus and the extensor pollicis are among the few that come to mind.) Thus, in the vast
majority of cases which are of interest, the ability to determine non-invasively the force contribution of


INTRODUCTION TO SURFACE EMG INTRODUCTION

individual muscles provides an enormous advantage, particularlywhen biomechanical models are devel-
oped to describe the workings of a segment of the musculoskeletal system. The use of the EMG signal to
provide a fatigue index has considerable appeal because it has been shown that the signal displays time-
dependent changes prior to any force modification, thus having the potential to predict the onset of con-
tractile fatigue.
I will discuss these applications, along with a review of technical considerations, in individual sections.
Each section begins by posing the cardinal questions relevant to the topic. At the end of each section, I
have listed recommendations that may be useful to assist the practitioner in the proper detection, analysis
and interpretation of the EMG signal and measured force. These recommendations should be viewed as
guidelines that will evolve and be modified as our knowledge of the subject matter increases. They are
numbered consecutively because they should be considered as cumulative; that is, a recommendation
appearing in an earlier section also applies to subsequent sections. Also, I have posed problems which, in
my view, present the greatest challenges to the advancement of the field of Surface Electromyography.
In order to facilitate the discussion on these application topics, I have found it useful to identify and collect
together the numerous factors that influence the detected EMG signal and the measured force.


INTRODUCTION TO SURFACE EMG FACTORS AFFECTING THE EMG SIGNAL AND FORCE PRODUCED BY A MUSCLE

FACTORS AFFECTING THE EMG SIGNAL AND FORCE PRODUCED BY A MUSCLE
One of the most frustrating, or appealing (depending on your perspective), aspects of the surface EMG sig-
nal is that when rectified and sufficiently smoothed its amplitude is qualitatively related to the amount of
torque (or force) measured about a joint, but more often than not, an accurate quantitative relationship is
elusive. The reason for this quandary is that the EMG signal is the result of many physiological, anatomi-
cal and technical factors. The effect of some of these factors may be managed by proper detection meth-
ods, but others are not easily regulated with current technology and their potential effect on the signal may
only be surmised and considered. To use the signal effectively, it is first necessary to understand as much
as possible the sources of, and the influences on, the signal. This task is daunting and complicated because
the current state of knowledge does not enable us to consider in a quantitative manner the cause and effect
of all the processes and phenomena which influence the EMG signal. Even if the influences could be com-
pletely characterized, the analytical rendition would be complicated by the anisotropy and inhomogeneity
of the tissues between the muscle membranes and the detection electrode. The analysis would be further
confounded by the uniqueness of the micro-anatomical structures of each detection location. It is conceiv-
able that in the future, elegant and complex models will be used in conjunction with means for describing
the anatomy, physiology and electrical field properties to allow a direct consideration of this problem. For
the time being, we are restricted to general considerations, simplistic models and simplistic analyses.
In an attempt to describe the factors which influence the EMG signal, I have found it useful to group them
into the following categories: causative, intermediate and deterministic factors. The interrelationship of
the factors along with their effect on the EMG signal and the interpretation of the signal characteristics is
displayed in Figure 1. Any attempt such as this to collect known influences on the EMG signal will be
constrained in its ability to express all possible interactions. The following attempt represents a first pass,
which is subject to improvement. The interaction is organized so as to describe a "flow-of-influence"
among the factors, the EMG signal and the force.



Figure 1: A schematic diagram of the factors which affect the EMG signal. The arrangement of the factors is
designed to demonstrate the flow of the influences and interactions among the factors.

The causative factors are those which have a basic or elemental effect on the signal. These are divided into
two groups: extrinsic and intrinsic. The extrinsic causative factors are those associated with the electrode
structure and its placement on the surface of the skin above the muscle. They include:
1) the electrode configuration which describes i) the area and shape of the electrode detection surfaces
which determine the number of active motor units that are detected by virtue of the number of muscle
fibers in their vicinity; ii) the distance between the electrode detection surfaces which determines the band-
width of the differential electrode configuration; 2) the location of the electrode with respect to the motor
points in the muscle and the myotendonous junction which influences the amplitude and frequency charac-
teristics of the detected signal. 3) the location of the electrode on the surface of the muscle with respect to
the lateral edge of the muscle which determines the possible amount of crosstalk that may be detected by
the electrode; and 4) the orientation of the detection surfaces with respect to the muscle fibers which
affects the value of the measured conduction velocity of the action potentials and, consequently, the ampli-
tude and frequency content of the signal; The influence of the electrode location on the amplitude and fre-
quency spectrum of the signal is displayed in Figure 2



.

Figure 2: The amplitude and frequency spectrum of the EMG signal is affected by the location of the electrode
with respect to the innervation zone (top electrode), the myotendonous junction (bottom electrode) and the lateral
edge of the muscle (middle right electrode). The preferred location is in the midline of the belly of the muscle
between the nearest innervation zone and the myotendonous junction. In this location the EMG signal with the
greatest amplitude is detected.

The intrinsic causative factors are the physiological, anatomical and biochemical characteristics of the
muscle. Unlike the extrinsic factors, they cannot be controlled due to limitations of current knowledge and
technology. They include:
1) the number of active motor units at any particular time of the contraction which contributes to the ampli-
tude of the detected signal; 2) the fiber type composition of the muscle which determines the change in the
pH of the muscle interstitial fluid during a contraction; 3) the blood flow in the muscle which determines
the rate at which metabolites are removed during the contraction; 4) the fiber diameter which influences
the amplitude and conduction velocity of the action potentials that constitute the signal; 5) the depth and
location of the active fibers within the muscle with respect to the electrode detection surfaces -- this rela-
tionship determines the spatial filtering, and consequently the amplitude and frequency characteristics, of



the detected signal; 6) the amount of tissue between the surface of the muscle and the electrode which
affects the spatial filtering of the signal; and 7) other factors that are yet to be identified, such as the length
of the depolarization zone and ionic fluxes across the membrane, etc. In this category, I have also included
the firing characteristics of the motor units (which include the behavior of the firing rates of the motor
units and any interaction among the firing rates, such as synchronization of motor unit firings) and the
motor unit twitch. These latter causative factors are presented in a dashed-line box because although they
are causative, they are also deterministic in that they affect the EMG signal directly.
The intermediate factors represent physical and physiological phenomena which are influenced by one or
more of the causative factors, and in turn influence the deterministic factors. These include:
1) the band-pass filtering aspects of the electrode which is an inherent characteristic of a differential elec-
trode configuration; 2) the detection volume of the electrode which determines the number and weight of
the motor unit action potentials that compose the signal; 3) superposition of action potentials in the
detected EMG signal which influences the characteristics of the amplitude and frequency of the signal; 4)
crosstalk from nearby muscles which contaminates the signal and may mislead the interpretation of the
information in the signal; 5) the conduction velocity of the action potentials that propagate along the mus-
cle fiber membrane; the conduction velocity affects the amplitude and frequency characteristics of the sig-
nal; and 6) the spatial filtering effect due to the relative position of the electrode and the active muscle
fibers.
The latter two factors are emphatically important because they dramatically affect the characteristics of the
signal. As the distance between the active fibers and the electrode detection surfaces varies, two important
concerns arise. Firstly, the spatial filtering characteristics of the detection arrangement change, thus alter-
ing the amplitude and frequency characteristics of the motor unit action potentials (MUAPs) which are
within the detection volume of the electrode. Secondly, the relative movement of the electrode and the
active fibers may be sufficient to place a new set of active motor units within the detection volume of the
electrode and to remove some of the motor units from the detection volume. This consideration requires
that if the muscle fibers change length during a contraction, then the electrode position must change simi-
larly. With current detection techniques, it is difficult to satisfy this requirement because the electrode is
affixed to the surface of the skin which does not change length in concert with the muscle fibers during a
contraction. Thus, for practical reasons, signal stability can only be approached if the contraction remains
isometric. If signal stability is not a consideration for the analysis being performed, such as determining
the activation time, then the limitation of the isometric contraction need not be a concern. The determinis-
tic factors are those which have a direct bearing on the information in the EMG signal and the recorded
force. These include:
1) the number of active motor units, 2) the motor unit force-twitch, 3) the mechanical interaction between
muscle fibers, 4) the motor unit firing rate, 5) the number of detected motor units, 6) the amplitude, dura-
tion and shape of the MUAPs, and 7) the recruitment stability of motor units.
When one studies the rich and convoluted interaction between the many factors that influence the informa-
tion content of the EMG signal, it is reasonable to ask if there is any hope of using the EMG signal in a
constructive fashion to describe the state of the muscle. The answer is a confident "yes" for some applica-
tions and a guarded "maybe" for other applications. For example, we can have confidence in measure-
ments where an electrode, which does not detect significant crosstalk from adjacent muscles, is placed on
the surface of the muscle between the innervation zone and the myotendonous junction for the purpose of:
1) determining, in a particular subject, when the muscle turns "on and off" or 2) describing if the muscle is
increasing or decreasing its force output over a period of time when the fatigue processes of the muscle do
not significantly affect the characteristics of the signal. If, however, the circumstances change from this
specific condition, the interpretation becomes complicated and caution is required.



The general map of interactions provided in Figure 1 represents most known interactions which attempt to
describe all circumstances. If we are interested in a particular relationship, contraction or phenomenon, the
interactions reduce to specific subsets of the complete map.


INTRODUCTION TO SURFACE EMG DETECTION AND PROCESSING OF THE EMG SIGNAL

DETECTION AND PROCESSING OF THE EMG SIGNAL
Is the EMG signal detected and recorded with maximal fidelity? How should the EMG signal be analyzed?
Although the technical considerations of how to detect and process the EMG signal are not central issues to
the thesis of this paper, it is nonetheless useful in a document dealing with the surface EMG signal to
review some of the essential details. For a more complete description the reader is referred to the book
Muscles Alive (5th ed.). The first issue concerns the configuration of the electrode. Because the EMG sig-
nal is low in amplitude with respect to other ambient signals on the surface of the skin, it is necessary and
convenient to detect it with a differential configuration. That is, two detection surfaces are used and the
two detected signals are subtracted prior to being amplified. In this differential configuration, the shape
and area of the detection surfaces and the distance between the detection surfaces are important factors
because they affect the amplitude and the frequency content of the signal. The differential arrangement
acts as a comb band-pass filter to the electrical signal seen by the detection surfaces. (In actuality, if the
inter-detection surface spacing is set so as not to alias the EMG signal, the spectrum of the EMG signal
should fit in the low end of the band-pass filter. Thus for practical purposes, the differential electrode
behaves as a high-pass filter.) The distribution of the frequencies in the spectrum as well as the bandwidth
is affected by the distance between the detection surfaces. This is an often forgotten fact that is not given
sufficient consideration. Also, the shapes and areas of and the distance between the detection surfaces
determine the number of the muscle fibers seen by the electrode, thus affecting the amplitude of the signal,
i.e., the greater the number of fibers covered by the detection surface, the greater the amplitude of the EMG
signal. The distance between the detection surfaces need not be so far apart as to span a large portion of
the muscle in order to detect a signal that is representative of the whole surface of the muscle because it is
known that the muscle fibers of a motor unit are somewhat randomly scattered throughout the cross-sec-
tion of a muscle; thus, any location on the muscle contains fibers that represent motor units which generate
a force throughout the muscle. From a practical point, the distance between the detection surfaces cannot
be too small because of the real possibility of the detection surfaces being shunted electrically if the surface
of the skin becomes moist with sweat which is conductive. The electrical shunting causes the amplitude of
the signal to decrease, deteriorates the signal to noise ratio and may filter out the higher frequency compo-
nents.
At the present time there is no set agreement on the configuration and dimensions of a standard surface
electrode. This is partially due to the different perceived requirements of an electrode. With the intention
of initiating a discussion to generate a consensus on this point, a number of specifications that have been
honed from two decades of practice are recommended below.
The other issue concerns how the EMG signal is processed. In the time domain, two parameters are com-
monly used: the root-mean-squared (rms) value and the average rectified value. Both are appropriate and
provide useful measurements of the signal amplitude. For EMG signals detected during voluntarily elic-
ited contractions, the rms value may be more appropriate because it represents the signal power and thus
has a clear physical meaning. On the other hand, the average rectified value is a measure of the area under
the signal and hence does not have a specific physical meaning. For additional details refer to De Luca and
Van Dyk (1975) and the monograph, Surface Electromyography: What’s New?

Recommendations:
1) Differential Electrode Configuration:
• detection surfaces consisting of two parallel bars: each 1.0 cm long, 1-2 mm wide, 1.0 cm apart
• bandwidth of 20 - 500 Hz with a roll-off at least 12 dB/octave
• common mode rejection ratio > 80 dB
• noise < 2 uV rms ( 20 - 400 Hz)
• input impedance > 100 meg ohms


INTRODUCTION TO SURFACE EMG DETECTION AND PROCESSING OF THE EMG SIGNAL

2) Locate the electrode on the midline of the muscle belly, between the myotendonous junction and the
nearest innervation zone, with the detection surface oriented perpendicularly to the length of the mus-
cle fibers. Use electrical stimulation or surface electrical mapping to locate the innervation zones.
3) Use the rms value of the signal for measuring the amplitude of the voluntarily elicited EMG signal.


INTRODUCTION TO SURFACE EMG THE ACTIVATION TIMING OF MUSCLES

THE ACTIVATION TIMING OF MUSCLES
How should the EMG signal be analyzed? Where does the detected EMG signal originate?
For determining the activation timing of muscles it does not matter if the contraction is isometric or aniso-
metric. It is only relevant to determine if any segment of the muscle in the vicinity of the electrode is
active. This is effectively accomplished by determining if the EMG signal originates from the muscle of
interest and if the amplitude of the signal supersedes the amplitude of the noise in the detection and record-
ing equipment.
The issue of crosstalk from other adjacent muscles is important in this case because the amplitude of the
signal being analyzed is low and near the noise level. It has been shown that in the leg, as much as 17% of
electrical activity from nearby muscles may be detected on the surface of the muscle of interest. Therefore,
if an adjacent muscle is active rather than the one directly below the electrode, a crosstalk signal can be
detected and misinterpreted as originating from the muscle of interest. The likelihood of detecting a
crosstalk signal may be reduced considerably by placing the electrode in the midline of the belly of the
muscle. However, even this precaution may not be sufficient to assure that the minimally perceived signal
originates from the muscle of interest. An approach that has been suggested for determining if a signal
originates from an adjacent muscle is to cross-correlate the signal detected above a muscle with the signal
separately detected above an adjacent muscle. The concept being that if the signals have a crosscorrelation
value less than say 0.3, crosstalk is not present. This approach is not sound because the tissues between
and within the various muscles are anisotropic and inhomogeneous. These properties of the conduction
volume cause multiple diffractions of the electric field vectors at the discontinuities and generate multiple
paths of differing impedances between the source and the detection sites causing the signal to be scrambled
in the frequency domain and hence uncorrelated. Thus, signals originating in other muscles would not be
interpreted as crosstalk, yielding a false-negative error. Another argument against the crosscorrelation
approach stems from the fact that the firing rates of motor units in different muscles contracting to perform
a specific task can be considerably cross-correlated. Thus, the surface EMG signals from such simulta-
neously contracting muscles could be substantially cross-correlated without the presence of crosstalk,
yielding a false-positive error. This is an important consideration when co-activation of muscles is sus-
pected.
Muscle function testing has been suggested as a means for determining the presence of crosstalk. This
approach consists of placing electrodes above the muscle of interest, stabilizing the joint in a position
favorable for specific muscle action, and requesting the subject to make specific contractions which should
activate muscles adjacent to, but not the one under consideration. The reason being that if a signal is
detected during the procedure, it would be crosstalk from adjacent muscles. The uncertainty of this
approach lies in the fact that one cannot know definitively if the subject is activating the nearby muscles
during the tests, thus yielding a false negative error.
By current knowledge, there is only one way to reduce and possibly eliminate crosstalk in the EMG signal
detected with surface electrodes; that is, the double differential technique . This technique consists of
using a surface electrode having three detection surfaces equally spaced apart. Two differential signals are
obtained from detection surfaces 1 and 2, and detection surfaces 2 and 3; then a differential signal is
obtained from these two. Thus, the EMG signal undergoes two levels of differentiation. This procedure
has the advantage of decreasing considerably the pick-up volume of the three-bar electrode, thus filtering
out the signals from further distances often corresponding to those emanating from other muscles. Figure
3 presents an example where the use of the double differential technique eliminates the detection of the
crosstalk signal. The top right hand panel presents the single and double differential signals detected at the
flexor carpi ulnaris muscle during a 50% maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) wrist extension isometric
contraction. Note that the single differential signal is present, whereas the simultaneously detected double
differential signal (which originates from further away) is indistinguishable from the noise. In contrast, the



bottom right panel shows that when the flexor carpi ulnaris muscle is activated at the 5% MVC level, both
single and double differential signals are detected because the source for both is near the electrode which is
placed on top of the muscle.
If the double differential technique cannot be used, then there are two ways to test the signal for crosstalk.
The first is to calculate the frequency spectra of the EMG signal that is suspected to contain a crosstalk sig-
nal and that of an EMG signal believed to originate from the muscle of interest. A crosstalk signal will
have lower frequency spectrum because it originates further away and will be subject to additional low-
pass filtering due to spatial filtering. This effect may also be seen in the bottom left hand panel of Figure
3. The power spectrum of the single differential signal detected during the 5% MVC of the flexor carpi
ulnaris muscle has a greater bandwidth than the single differential signal detected on the same muscle dur-
ing a 50% MVC isometric extension contraction of the wrist. The lesser bandwidth of the latter signal is
consistent with the additional spatial filtering effect on a signal originating at a greater distance, as would
be expected for a crosstalk signal.
The second approach consists of placing surface electrodes on all the adjacent muscles and wire electrodes
in the deep muscles to monitor them for lack of activity. This approach is cumbersome, involves the use of
several surface electrodes, and requires the use of wire electrodes. If they are to be used, then use them to
detect the signal from teh muscle of interest because they are far less susceptable to crosstalk.

Figure 3: Example of the use of the double differential technique (top left panel) to eliminate the presence of the
crosstalk signal (top right panel) while detecting the signal from the muscle of interest (bottom right panel). Note
the decreased bandwidth (bottom left panel) of the single differential signal originating from the extensor muscles
as compared to that of the single differential signal originating from the flexor carpi ulnaris directly below the
electrode. This is indicative of the spatial filtering effect on signals which travel greater distances to reach the
electrode.



It is also necessary to consider the delay between the activation of the muscle as observed by the detection
of the EMG signal and the activation of the muscle as determined by the detection of the force generated
by the muscle. For biomechanical studies, the time course of the force is the relevant parameter. The delay
between the EMG signal and the force is a variable that depends on several factors, including: 1) the fiber-
type composition of the muscle, 2) the firing rate dynamics of the muscle, and 3) the viscoelastic properties
of the muscle and tendon tissues (including their length.) The relatively more aerobic, slower twitch,
slower fatiguing muscle fibers have a relatively slower rise-time in their force twitch and tetanization force
than the relatively more glycolytic, faster twitch, faster fatiguing muscle fibers. Thus, a muscle consisting
of a greater percentage of fast-twitch muscle fibers may be expected to have a shorter time delay between
the EMG signal and the force. The firing rate dynamics of the motor units determine the rate with which
the motor units will generate the tetanic force. The viscoelastic properties of the muscle and tendon tissue
determine the rate of force increase at the tendon attachment to the bone. The overall delay between the
excitation of the muscle and the force buildup can be considerable, on the order of a few hundred millisec-
onds, as shown in Figure 4.

Figure 4: The tetanic force produced by the soleus muscle (slow-twitch, highly-aerobic, slow-fatiguing) and the
extensor digitorum longus muscle (fast-twitch, highly-glycolytic, fast-fatiguing), both from the rat. Both muscles
were stimulated supramaximally, via their nerve, with a 40 Hz train of pulses having a width of 0.2 ms. Note the
dramatic difference in the delay of the force rise-time.

In addition to the physiologically caused delay between force and the EMG signal, there are other consid-
erations that must be taken into account when estimating the ON-OFF times of the EMG signal. There is a
physiological limit to the accuracy of the resolution of the estimate. Consider the case where the electrode
is located 4 cm from the center of the innervation zone. With an average conduction velocity of 4 m/s, the
signal will require 10 ms to reach the electrode. (Such a time delay is realistic in the larger muscles of the
limbs.) Thus, the resolution need not be greater than 10 ms when comparing the subjects and when the



electrode is relocated. Also as the muscle fatigues the conduction velocity decreases and the arrival time
of the EMG signal increases.
If the determination of the activation time is to be made in real time, then knowledge of the detection and
recording-system noise is required. This implies that an epoch of noise must be recorded prior to the EMG
signal being activated so that an estimate of the noise level is available. Figure 5 presents an example of
the EMG signal initiating and becoming distinct from the background noise. The top trace represents the
recorded EMG signal and the bottom trace represents the rms value processed with an averaging window
of 25 ms. The estimate of the amplitude of the noise may be obtained by treating the noise as a stochastic
variable. There are several ways of doing so. A simple approach is to calculate the value of the noise
amplitude at two standard deviations from the mean value. This value captures 95% of the amplitude of
the noise signal and is commonly used as a descriptor of stochastic signals. The time value at which the
EMG signal surpasses above, or recedes below this level, for a minimally defined amount of time (say 20
ms or twice the typical physiologically limited resolution) may be considered as the ON time or the OFF
time of the muscle. This point is indicated as to in Figure 5. Note that more sophisticated approaches are
possible by prewhitening the raw EMG signal and constructing a decision-based criteria for establishing
when the raw signal surpasses the noise threshold. This approach requires relatively sophisticated process-
ing and any improvement in the accuracy of the estimate may not be meaningful given the physiological
limitation of the time resolution.
If the determination may be made off-line, then a more physiologically precise estimate of the ON-OFF
times may be made by calculating the intersection of the time varying mean value of the noise and the
EMG signal. These values may be obtained by calculating the linear regressions of both. This point is
indicated as a priori to in Figure 5. Note that the a priori intercept will occur earlier because of the addi-
tional information available in the off-line estimate. In the example, the discrepancy between the two esti-
mates is on the order of 1.5 s. This is a rather large value found only when the EMG signal increases very
slowly, as was the case in the gradual isometric extension of the erector spinae muscles represented in Fig-
ure 5. In such cases this discrepancy can completely override the physiologically induced delay between
the force and the EMG signal. However, if the muscle were to have begun contracting more rapidly and if



the amplitude of the noise of the electrode were lower, this discrepancy would be less than 200 ms, compa-
rable to the value of the physiological delay.

Figure 5: An example of the background noise and the initiation of activation of the EMG signal from the erector
spinae muscle of the back during a slowly increasing isometric extension of the back. Note the two different iden-
tifications of the time of initiation depending on the availability of a priori knowledge of the stochastic properties
of the noise and the behavior of the signal amplitude. See text for details.

It is apparent that any attempt at estimating the precise time at which a muscle begins and ends being acti-
vated is fraught with difficulties which cannot be fully addressed with current knowledge and require fur-
ther study.

Recommendations:
4) Measure the activation time in all types of contractions.
5) Limit the resolution of the ON-OFF times to 10 ms when comparing among muscles and subjects.
6) Be sure that the signal originates from the muscle of interest by testing for crosstalk. Use the double
differential technique, the frequency spectrum technique or the multiple electrode technique.

Problems for Resolution:
1) Elimination or substantial reduction of crosstalk from other muscles is required. Until means to do so
are available, a way to easily identify the presence of crosstalk signals is necessary. (This is an essen-
tial requirement for all applications of the surface EMG signal.)
2) An agreed-upon means for determining the ON-OFF times of a muscle activation is required.


INTRODUCTION TO SURFACE EMG THE FORCE / EMG SIGNAL RELATIONSHIP

THE FORCE / EMG SIGNAL RELATIONSHIP
Where does the detected EMG signal originate? Is the EMG signal sufficiently stationary for the intended
analysis and interpretation? Where does the measured force originate?
The force-EMG signal relationship has bound the disciplines of electromyography and biomechanics in an
inextricable manner ever since they began their evolution towards quantification. A closed-form and/or
simple equation describing this relationship would be desirable and extremely useful. However, the reality
is that such a simple form does not exist between force and the surface EMG signal, as they are currently
measured, during a contraction. This is an application fraught with problems. The observation that the
amplitude of the EMG signal generally increases as the force and/or contraction velocity of the muscle
increases only provides a qualitative indication of the existence of a relationship between the variables.
This qualitative relationship may prove useful if only qualitative descriptions of the muscle state are
required. For example, if one considers the question -- is the muscle generating more force during a sub-
stantially different task?, it is possible to answer this question qualitatively by analyzing the EMG signal.
However, if one considers the question -- "By precisely how much does the force vary between two
tasks?", it is not possible to answer this question quantitatively with precision.
There are many factors that cause the relationship to be nonrigid. These have been presented in Figure 1
and are specifically outlined in Figure 6. The effect of all these factors can be neutralized by normalizing
the amplitudes of the EMG signal and the force among contractions in which the electrode is not moved
and if the relative distance between the electrode and the active muscle fibers remains fixed. If the elec-
trode is moved, then the characteristics of the spatial filtering between the active fibers and the detection
surfaces will change; also, the location with respect to the innervation zones, the myotendonous junction
and the midline of the muscles, will be modified. These variations will be reflected in the amplitude of the
EMG signal. If the force-EMG signal relationship is to be compared among different subjects, then all the
intrinsic and some of the extrinsic factors which have been described previously can potentially affect the



relationship. Among these, the amount of subcutaneous fatty tissue becomes a major concern and any
comparison should be done with caution.

Figure 6: The inter-relationship of the factors which affect the amplitude of the EMG signal at the beginning of a
contraction (t=0+). The time-dependent factors which would be influential during a sustained contraction are not
shown. Click on image to expand.

The issue of crosstalk is omnipresent when dealing with surface EMG signals. As in other considerations
of the signal, all possible efforts must be made to eliminate it or at least reduce its presence. With this
problem aside, the next concern deals with the stationarity of the EMG signal. Two factors have the great-
est effect on signal stationarity: 1) the stability of the electrode position with respect to the active muscle
fibers; any such movement would affect the amplitude of the MUAPs and possibly bring the electrode to
the territory of an active motor unit not previously detected, and 2) the stability of the motor unit activation
pattern. (For additional information on motor unit stability see De Luca, Foley and Erim, 1996.) The first
factor may be substantially controlled by limiting the muscle contraction to be as isometric as possible.
For this reason it is the most studied contraction even though it is less physiologically interesting than the
anisometric contraction which is used to perform the movement tasks that enable us to interact with our
environment.
In an anisometric contraction, various mechanical, physiological, anatomical and electrical modifications
occur throughout the contraction that affect, in substantial ways, the relationship between the signal ampli-
tude and the force produced by the muscle. For example, the force-length relationship of the muscle fibers
varies non-linearly, and the shapes of the MUAPs which construct the EMG signal, are altered because the
relative position of the electrode fixed on the surface of the skin changes with respect to the contracting
muscle fibers. These effects are further aggravated if the displacement is accelerated because the time
delay between the signal and the force may limit use in some applications.



If it is absolutely necessary to process an EMG signal detected during an anisometric contraction, then
make every attempt to limit the analysis to a near-isometric epoch of the record and extrapolate the inter-
pretation of the analysis based on the results from this epoch. If the anisometric contractions are repetitive,
such as those found in gait and cycling, then choose for analysis a fixed epoch in the period of the contrac-
tion. Make all comparisons in this epoch. In this fashion, it may be possible to reduce the role of the signal
non-stationarities with respect to the role of other effects being studied. In all cases, such analyses and
comparisons should be performed with the utmost care and concern for the inherent limitations of this
approach.
If a quantitative relationship between the EMG signal and force is required, then the contraction must be
isometric. However, even under this constraint the relationship between force and EMG signal remains
problematic. It is generally agreed that when the EMG signal is sufficiently smoothed, the relationship is
monotonic, but the linearity appears to differ amongst muscles (assuming that there are no technical and
other confounding factors such as crosstalk). See Figure 7.

Figure 7: Normalized Force / EMG signal relationship for three different muscles. The data have been greatly
smoothed, with a window width of 2 s. Note the difference in the linearity of the relationship among the muscles.

However, because the amplitude of the surface EMG signal is a random variable, the instantaneous value
of the amplitude is not monotonic with respect to the force value. Furthermore, the estimate of the signal
amplitude will vary as a function of force due to intrinsic anatomical and physiological factors. More spe-
cifically, the relationship is nonrigid because:
1) In most muscles, the detection volume of the electrode is smaller than the volume of the muscle.
Therefore, the number of MUAPs detected by the electrode is less than the number that are active in



the muscle. Consider the likely case where the electrode only detects one tenth the active motor units
and a new motor unit is activated in the detection volume of the electrode. Then, on average, the
energy of the EMG signal will be increased by one unit and the force output of the muscle by one tenth
of a unit. For a fixed size electrode, this effect will be more pronounced in larger muscles. Addition-
ally: i) If the newly recruited motor unit is located close to the electrode, then the relative increase of
the EMG signal will be greater than the corresponding increase of the force because the new MUAP
will contribute more than an average unit of energy to the EMG signal. ii) If the newly recruited motor
unit is located far away from the electrode, then the force will increase, but the amplitude of the EMG
signal will not.
2) As the force output of a muscle increases beyond the level of a newly recruited motor unit, the firing
rate of the recruited motor unit will increase, but the force contribution of the motor unit will saturate.
Each MUAP will continue to provide energy to the EMG signal, while the force contribution saturates
to a near constant value. This non-linear relationship causes the amplitude of the EMG signal to
increase more than the force output. Consequently, the control strategy, described in terms of the mix-
ture of firing rate dynamics and recruitment range used by the central nervous system (CNS) to control
different muscles, can also affect the EMG-force relationship. For example, the first dorsal
interosseous muscle has firing rates with considerable dynamic range and recruits all its motor units
below 50% of its maximal voluntary contraction. Larger muscles recruit their motor units through a
wider range of force levels and their firing rates exhibit less dynamic ranges.



These two major factors are displayed graphically in Figure 8. The impact of all these effects can be
reduced by filtering, but then the instantaneous and intimate relationship between force and the EMG sig-
nal is lost.

Figure 8: (Top) When a motor unit is recruited, it contributes a quanta of force to the muscle contraction; how-
ever, the contribution to the EMG signal amplitude is dependent on the proximity of the detection surfaces of the
electrode to the nearest fibers of the recruited motor unit - the nearer the fibers, the greater the contribution. Thus,
the vector representing the incremental increase may increase or decrease the instantaneous slope of the force-
EMG signal relationship. (Bottom) A newly recruited motor unit will increase its firing rate as the force demand
increases. The tetanization force increases rapidly as a function of the increasing firing rate, whereas, the contri-
bution to the amplitude of the EMG signal increases less rapidly. Thus, as in the previous case, the vector repre-
senting the incremental increase may increase or decrease the instantaneous slope of the relationship depending
on the firing rate value with respect to its dynamic range.

The other important issue to address concerns the origin of the measured force which is associated with the
muscle or group of muscles being studied. In actuality, the CNS regulates the torques at a joint during pur-



poseful muscle contractions. During isometric contractions, the moment arm of the muscle and the instan-
taneous center of rotation of the joint remain constant (for practical purposes) thus, the net torque may be
reasonably and directly related to the net force acting in the joint. But, even in this simplified situation the
issue of the origin of the contributing forces must be understood prior to associating the measured net force
to the force produced by an individual muscle or a specific group of muscles being studied. There are at
least two points to be considered. Firstly, does a muscle generate force homogeneously throughout its vol-
ume? This is a relevant consideration when comparing the EMG signal detected at a specific location with
the force being generated by the muscle throughout its volume. Secondly, what is the role of the agonistic
and antagonistic muscles acting at the joint being considered? The contribution to the force by the syner-
gistic and antagonistic muscles, to the muscle from which the EMG signal is detected, as well as any liga-
ments acting on the joint, must be negligible if parameters of the detected EMG signal are to be associated
with the absolute value of the force from the monitored muscle. Alternatively, their contributions must
remain constant to enable a relative comparison. This latter point introduces the notion of muscle substitu-
tion during a sustained contraction. This possible phenomenon has not been sufficiently studied and is not
well understood. It may present a real concern when dealing with pathological cases where the CNS may
employ, more readily, alternative strategies to accomplish a task when normally preferred options are lim-
ited or not available.
All the concerns associated with the force measurement during isometric conditions are magnified in
degree and augmented in number when one deals with anisometric contractions. There are at least three
facts that require careful consideration: 1) at most joints, when the muscle length changes so does the
length of the moment arm, and in some joints, so does the instantaneous center of rotation and; 2) from
physiological considerations, as the length of the muscle fibers changes so does the force generated by the
fiber; and 3) the inertial components of the net torque must be taken into account. These facts present an
enormous challenge to any attempt at identifying the force originating from a specific muscle. Current
knowledge falls far short of providing quantitative interpretations of the force generated within a muscle,
or a specific group of muscles from torque measurements in dynamic conditions.

Comparison among subjects, muscles and contractions:
Throughout this section, many concerns have been raised about the variability of the detected EMG signal
and the measured force as a function of: experimental conditions, repeated contractions within a subject,
and among different subjects. To enable a comparison between and among data collected in these various
conditions, the practice of normalizing the EMG signal with respect to the force (or torque) is often used.
However, it should be noted that even with this practice, variations in the relationship can be found in the
same muscle among subjects. When comparing among subjects, the lengths of moment arms in individual
subjects may present a problem because they may vary whilst the EMG signal remains related to the force
produced by the muscle. There is at least one other important reservation to the use of normalization, that
is, its predilection to render similar the data from different subjects tends to suppress the distinctions in the
data that would be associated with abnormal or pathological cases. This is an important concern when the
EMG signal is to be used for the analysis of clinical data. When a comparison among subjects is required,
then in addition to normalizing the amplitude of the EMG signal, the force (torque) is also normalized to
provide a basis of comparison among the differing force capabilities of the muscles of the subjects. Figure
7 provides an example of the different normalized and smoothed relationships for three different muscles.
It has been common practice to normalize the force (or torque) with respect to the maximal isometric force
that a subject can generate at the monitored joint. The concerns and pitfalls of this approach are apparent.
The two most obvious deal with the assurance that a subject is actually generating maximal force when
asked to do so, and that the monitored force is in some direct manner related to the muscles being studied.
It has been suggested that it may be possible to verify if a subject is generating maximal force by supra-
maximally stimulating, at a high frequency (whenever possible), the nerve to the muscle(s) during an



attempted maximal force contraction. No noticeable increase in the force output as a consequence of the
stimulation might indicate that the maximal force was being produced. This reasoning is not convincing
because the force output of a muscle during a synchronous volley of firings, due to the stimulation of a
nerve, does not necessarily produce the same total force as when the muscle is being asynchronously acti-
vated by the CNS.
One practical, although by no means foolproof, means for estimating the maximal force value is to proceed
as follows: constrain the joint of interest with restraints that impede, to the fullest extent possible, the force
contribution of muscles not directly involved with the force to be measured. This is not a simple task. It
requires comprehensive knowledge of the biomechanics and anatomy of the muscles and joint(s) being
considered as well as some aptitude for designing a suitable restraining device. This task should be exe-
cuted or supervised by experienced individuals; and even then, such attempts are susceptible to subjectiv-
ity and outright failure. When this task is achieved in a justifiably satisfactory fashion, proceed to ask the
subject to produce three attempts at maximal contraction. The contractions should be brief, no more than 5
s in duration. The force signal should be smoothed with a filter having a sliding window of 1 s duration.
The greatest value of the force record should be measured. A rest period of at least 2 min between each
contraction is required for recovery. The contractions should be brief so that the fast-fatiguing fibers hope-
fully do not diminish their force contribution as the force builds to the maximal value, but sufficiently long
to be filtered as described. Let the subject choose his/her own manner of producing the force; in this fash-
ion the CNS may optimize its control strategy, if it is so designed. Accept the largest value as the maximal
value. At the NeuroMuscular Research Center, we have been satisfied with this approach. But clearly a
more objective or more physiologically sound approach must be developed.

Recommendations:
7) A quantitative comparison of proportional relationship between the EMG signal and force should be
limited to well-regulated isometric contractions in which the joint being tested is constrained to limit
the torque contributions of muscles other than the one(s) of interest.
8) The force and the EMG signal are not monotonically related in an instantaneous sense. Analyses rely-
ing on an instantaneous relationship should treat the relationship as stochastic. To obtain a near-mono-
tonic relationship between the force and the EMG signal, filter the signal with a window width of 1 s.
9) When obtaining measurements from constant-force isometric contractions, confirm that there are no
motor units active on the verge of their threshold. This situation is to be avoided particularly in cases
where the force level is low and the amplitude of the marginally recruited MUAP is high.
10) Avoid anisometric contractions. If data from such contractions are to be analyzed quantitatively, use
contractions that have the least amount of shortening and the slowest velocity, and interpret the results
with care and caution.
11) If repetitive anisometric contractions must be analyzed, choose an epoch of data from a fixed portion
on the cycle of activity and monitor the signal parameters as the cycles progress.
12) When normalizing the amplitude of the EMG signal, do so at values less than 80% MVC. Above this
level, the EMG signal and the force (torque) are exceptionally unstable and do not provide a suitable
reference point.
13) Measure the MVC by choosing the greatest value of three consecutive attempts at reaching the maxi-
mal value, with a rest period of at least 2 min between contractions. Let the subject choose his/her own
force rate to reach maximal value. The posture of the subject should be similar if not identical to that
assumed during the actual test. Repeat this measurement each time the experimental conditions
change.



3) Development of a surface detection means that would follow the movement of the muscle fibers.
(This approach would improve the stationarity of the signal and provide a rational basis for quantita-
tively relating the detected EMG signal to the measured torque during anisometric contractions,
although the effects of force-length and inertial forces remain and require consideration.)
4) Development of means for on-line measurement of the stationarity of the surface EMG signal. (This
approach would provide a measure of the signal stationarity while the signal is being detected.)
5) Development of means by which the absolute force produced by a muscle may be meaningfully esti-
mated with an accuracy of +/- 5% directly from the surface EMG signal detected above a muscle.
Constant-force and force-varying isometric contractions should be addressed first. (This approach
would require new means for detecting the EMG signal.)
6) How do the muscle fibers transmit force throughout the muscle? a) When a muscle fiber contracts, is
the force transmitted longitudinally along the fibers or is it also transmitted radially via interconnec-
tions among the fibers? b) There is mounting evidence that in most muscles the fibers do not traverse
the length of the muscle. How is the force produced by a fiber transmitted to the tendon of the muscle?
7) Does a muscle generate force homogeneously throughout its volume? (This is a function of the homo-
geneity of the muscle tissues, the distribution of the fibers within a motor unit, the distribution of the
motor units within the volume of the muscle, and the architecture of the muscle attachment to the bone
or other tissues. This knowledge is particularly necessary when considering muscles which are wide
and short. In these cases the resultant force vector may alter its angle of action as a function of force
level. This knowledge would also be useful for refinements of biomechanical models.)
8) Description of the anisotropy and inhomogeneity of the muscle, fascia, fat and skin tissues. (This
knowledge would be useful to describe how the amplitude and frequency spectrum of the EMG signal
is altered by the tissues between the active fibers and the electrode.)
9) The refinement and further development of anatomically correct and detailed biomechanical models of
the musculoskeletal system. (Such models will enable the calculation of the force vectors and the
instantaneous center of rotation of the joints so that torques and forces may be calculated during
motion.)


INTRODUCTION TO SURFACE EMG THE EMG SIGNAL AS A FATIGUE INDEX

THE EMG SIGNAL AS A FATIGUE INDEX
Is the EMG signal detected and recorded with maximal fidelity? How should the EMG signal be analyzed?
Where does the detected EMG signal originate? Is the EMG signal sufficiently stationary for the intended
analysis and interpretation?
In the study of human biomechanics, it is often desirable to have means for assessing the fatigue of mus-
cles that are involved in the performance of a task. Physiologists have become accustomed to using the
force output of a muscle as the index of muscle fatigue. In particular, the point at which a contraction can
no longer be maintained (the failure point) has been generally designated as the point at which the muscle
is said to fatigue. This approach implies that fatigue occurs at a specific point in time; a notion that is
inconsistent with the concept of fatigue accepted by engineers and physical scientists. The use of the fail-
ure point carries with it some practical disadvantages. For example, fatigue would be detected only after it
had occurred. This approach would have little use in clinical and ergonomics applications where it is often
desirable to have indications that precede failure so that appropriate remedies may be taken. In addition,
there are at least three other confounding factors:
1) During a voluntary contraction, the force of an individual muscle is not often directly accessible, and
the monitored torque may not faithfully represent the force of the muscle of interest.
2) During a submaximal contraction, it is possible to maintain the torque acceptably constant, in a macro-
scopic sense, but there are time-dependent physiological and biochemical processes that microscopi-
cally alter the means for generating force during a sustained contraction. These processes include: i)
motor units may be recruited and derecruited; this has not been proven beyond doubt, but remains
plausible; ii) the firing rates of most motor units decrease; and iii) the force twitches of motor units
increase in amplitude during sustained contractions.
3) The failure point is a function of both physiological and psychological factors and it is difficult to
know accurately the causal relationship of each to the failure point. The alternative and, in my assess-
ment, the preferable approach is to exploit the well-known spectral modification property of the EMG
signal detected during a sustained contraction. (The spectral modification manifests itself mostly as a
compression accompanied with an alteration in the skewness of the shape.) Means for monitoring and
quantifying the spectral modification during sustained contractions provide fatigue indices that
describe the time course of the fatigue-related physiological and biochemical processes. Such an
approach provides at least two advantages over the contractile fatigue approach:
a. Contractile force can only be conveniently measured by monitoring the torque about a joint to
which more than one muscle can contribute. In contrast, the EMG signal can be detected from
individual muscles; thus, the spectral variable fatigue index can be used to describe the perfor-
mance of individual muscles.
b. The spectral modification progresses continuously from the onset of contraction, thus providing an
indication of the rate of the fatigue process early in the contraction. Contractile fatigue, as cur-
rently measured, requires the expenditure of considerable effort prior to being measurable.
Given that both the mechanisms which cause the EMG spectral modification and those which generate the
force undergo changes during the progression of fatigue, it is inevitable to ask if a relationship exists
between the two. The answer is undoubtedly "yes". The more interesting question is if the relationship is
causal. This issue is not clear at this time, and a considerable amount of work is required before meaning-
ful statements can be made to illuminate this issue. Nonetheless, the lack of proof of a causal relationship
does not logically preclude the use of the spectral fatigue index, especially when empirical evidence
reveals its usefulness.
The spectral modification may be monitored and quantified by tracking some characteristic indicators of
the frequency spectrum, such as the median, mean or mode frequency of the spectrum, or alternatively by



calculating a ratio of a low-frequency to high-frequency bandwidths, or by integrating the area correspond-
ing to the decrease of the median frequency. I prefer the median frequency because it is less sensitive to
noise, less sensitive to signal aliasing, and in most cases it is more sensitive to the biochemical and physio-
logical factors that occur within the muscles during sustained contractions . However, the estimate of the
median frequncy is more variable, largely due to the instability of the EMG signal spectrum at lower fre-
quencies. Nonetheless, a three-point digital filter reduces the variability of the estimate to that of the mean
frequency. For a comprehensive review refer to De Luca (1984). The spectral modification events
described above are represented graphically in Figure 9.

Figure 9: A diagrammatic explanation of the spectral modification which occurs in the EMG signal during sus-
tained contractions. The muscle fatigue index is represented by the median frequency of the spectrum.



It now remains to explain the factors that cause this phenomenon to occur. There are two main properties
of the EMG signal that can affect the frequency spectrum: 1) the firing behavior of the motor units, and 2)
the shape of the MUAP. The dominant effect of the firing rate of the motor unit is limited to the frequency
neighborhood of the value of the average firing rate (15 to 25 Hz). The second harmonics of the firing
rates are considerably smaller than the first harmonics and they occur at double the frequency of the first
harmonics, where they are overwhelmed by the energy of the MUAP shapes. The variance of the firing
rates will determine the broadness of the frequency peak representing the firing rate, therefore, any influ-
ence will be limited to the same region. Synchronization of motor unit firings, that much abused property
of the EMG signal which has been conveniently and improperly accused of contributing to the spectral
modification and associated increase in the amplitude of the EMG signal, cannot significantly effect the
spectral characteristics of the EMG signal for two reasons. Firstly, it can be shown mathematically that
interactions among the firing rates will contribute frequency components in the frequency region of the fir-
ing rate values. More importantly, synchronization has been shown to occur in small doses (less than 8%
of firings) and in bursts of two to three firings that occur sporadically . All these firing related effects are
reflected in the spectrum of the EMG signal at frequencies in the neighborhood of 15 to 25 Hz for most
contractions in most muscles. It is advisable (and has been recommended in this paper) that in order to
maintain signal stability, improve stationarity and eliminate motion artifacts, the EMG signal should be
detected with a low-frequency cut-off of 20 Hz. Therefore, most of the contribution of the firing character-
istics of the motor units would not be included in the detected EMG signal.
It remains for the behavior of the shapes of the MUAPs to provide an explanation for the spectral modifi-
cation of the EMG signal. If one observes the shape of the compound action potential of a muscle during a
sustained contraction, it will be seen that the time duration of the action potential increases as the time of
the contraction increases. It can be shown mathematically that this behavior of the motor unit action
potential shape would cause a compression in the spectrum of the EMG signal. There are numerous
reports in the literature that attest to the increased time duration of the MUAP. Recently at the NeuroMus-
cular Research Center, we have shown that approximately 65% of this increase can be accounted for by the
independently measured concurrently decreasing conduction velocity of the action potential . We have
also shown that decrease in the conduction velocity is causally related to the decrease in the pH of a bath
fluid surrounding the muscle. It is further known that during sustained contractions, the pH of the intersti-
tial fluid decreases as the lactic acid accumulates in the membrane environment as the contraction
progresses.
To further understand the factors which alter the shape of the MUAP, we refer back to Figure 1 which
describes the interaction of all the factors that affect the EMG signal and isolate the ones that have an
impact on the MUAP shape at the beginning of a contraction. Some deal with the electrode configuration,
some with the location and orientation, others with the architecture of the muscle and tissues between the
active fibers and the electrode, and others with physiological and biochemical events. These factors are
displayed in a block diagram in Figure 10. If an anisometric contraction is performed, all these factors will
influence the shape of the MUAP and the causative influences are very difficult to identify. For this rea-
son, it is not recommended to analyze the spectrum of the EMG signal detected during anisometric con-
tractions. However, during an isometric contraction, the spatial filtering properties of the detection
arrangement are fixed and remain constant. If the isometric contraction is maintained at constant force,
recruitment of the motor units is unlikely to occur and the average size of the active muscle fibers remains
constant. Thus, for a constant-force isometric contraction, the only factors that affect the MUAP are the
conduction velocity and the depolarization zone of the muscle fibers. Furthermore, if the contraction is
sufficiently forceful to occlude the blood flow in the muscle, the only known factor that affects the conduc-
tion velocity is the amount of interstitial H+ and K+, with the casual influence of H+ being far better stud-
ied. In most muscles in limbs and back, the blood flow becomes occluded at approximately 30% MVC.
The muscle temperature plays an insignificant part. For most submaximal, short-term contractions (less
than 15s), the temperature increase in the muscle is no greater than 0.5 degrees C, which would increase



the conduction velocity by approximately 1.5% . However, there remains the effect of the size of the depo-
larization zone on the conduction velocity; the amount of its influence is not yet known.
Thus, for constant-force isometric contractions above 30% MVC, the spectral modification of the EMG
signal is mostly due to the accumulation of lactic acid (the metabolic byproduct of a muscle fiber contrac-
tion). This point should be made with some modest reservation because the possible effects of other ions
and other factors have not been studied. Nonetheless, current knowledge indicates that by correctly ana-
lyzing the EMG signal, detected non-painfully and non-invasively outside the body, it is possible to quan-
titatively measure and monitor the amount of biochemical byproducts produced in an individual muscle
during a sustained contraction. This is an exciting association which leads to many practical applications.

Figure 10: Factors which affect the shape of the motor unit action potential during a sustained contraction. The
shaded areas are indicative of known factors that are modified as a function of time during a sustained constant-
force contraction above 30 % MVC. The dark shaded areas indicate other possible influential factors whose
effects have not yet been established.

It should be apparent now that when using the spectral fatigue indexes, it is necessary to consider and fol-
low some practical guidelines. Consider the following points which are apparent from the interactions
shown in Figure 1 and Figure 6:
1) Electrode configuration: The distance between the detection surfaces of an electrode determines the
bandwidth of the filtering characteristics of the differential configuration. Therefore, if the median fre-
quency, or any other measure of the frequency spectrum of the EMG signal, is to be compared among
contractions, the same electrode configuration and dimensions must be used.



2) Electrode location: As previously recommended, the electrode should be placed between the myoten-
donous junction and the nearest innervation zone. This is particularly important when the spectral
variables of the signal are to be measured. If a differential electrode is placed in the proximity of a
motor point, it will detect the superposition of action potentials which have positive and negative
phases and which pass by the electrode with relatively small time delays among them. The resulting
short-time delay subtractions generate high frequencies which augment the energy content in the high-
frequency end of the EMG signal spectrum and consequently yield a higher value for the median fre-
quency. The innervation zones may be located by applying an electrical stimulation to the skin above
the muscle and locating the points where the minimal amount of current is required to elicit a mini-
mally perceivable fibrillation of the muscle. Alternatively, the surface above the muscle may be
scanned with a surface electrode array during a low-level contraction to determine the location where
the phases of the MUAP reverse.
3) Electrode orientation: The detection surfaces of the electrode should be oriented so that they intersect
perpendicularly the length of the muscle fibers. The length of the fibers which traverse the distance
between the detection surfaces determines the amount of time required for the action potentials to
traverse the distance. Given that the inter detection- surface spacing is fixed, the value of the apparent
conduction velocity will be a function of the cosine of the angle between the fibers and the detection
surfaces. As previously mentioned, the estimated value of the conduction velocity affects the fre-
quency scaling of the spectrum and consequently the value of the spectral parameters. If the electrode
is located near the myotendonous junction there is one other concern, that is, the truncation of the
action potential as it reaches the higher impedance of the tendon. This truncation tends to introduce
sharp features to the action potentials, which in turn increase the high frequency contribution to the
spectrum of the EMG signal.
4) Crosstalk: Because signals originating from other muscles generally travel through greater distances to
reach the electrode, they will be subjected to more spatial filtering (low-pass filtering). Hence, they
will contain less energy in the higher frequencies. The inclusion of crosstalk signals in the detected
EMG signal will skew the frequency spectrum towards the lower frequencies, thus reducing the value
of the median frequency and possibly alter the rate of decrease during the contraction. This influence
is particularly disruptive if the agonist and antagonist muscles alter their contribution to the torque dur-
ing the contraction; an occurrence that has special concern when pathology is present.
5) Subcutaneous tissue: Comparison of spectral parameters of EMG signals detected in similar locations
among subjects, or from different locations within subjects, requires caution. The amount of subcuta-
neous (fatty) tissue between the electrode and the active fibers determines the amount of spatial filter-
ing to which the signal is subjected. The greater the thickness of the tissue, the greater the low-pass
filtering. Thus, additional subcutaneous tissue reduces the value of the median frequency.
6) Fiber diameter: The conduction velocity of the muscle fiber is proportional to (some power of) its
diameter. Therefore, muscles with larger diameter fibers, such as those generally belonging to higher
threshold motor units, will have greater average conduction velocities which, in turn, will shift the fre-
quency spectrum towards the high frequency range and consequently increase the value of the median
frequency. This effect can be noted when the force output of the muscle increases, but the sensitivity is
low ( 0.16 Hz/% MVC) . Nonetheless, distinctions on the basis of fiber size would be expected as the
result of exercise when the muscle fibers hypertrophy; as the result of disuse, where the muscle fibers
atrophy; and between muscles of different gender because males generally have larger diameter fibers.
Note that the latter three effects still require convincing experimental assurance.
7) Signal stability: Even during a constant-force isometric contraction, the issue of EMG signal stability
raises concerns that require close monitoring of the signal as it is detected. For example, if the force
output of the muscle is not perfectly steady, motor units on the verge of recruitment and in the vicinity
of the electrode could begin to fire and be detected. If such units have fibers that are near the surface



of the muscle, they would contribute significant energy to the signal and their frequency characteristics
could alter the shape of the EMG signal spectrum unpredictably. Consequently, the value of the
median frequency would also vary unpredictably.
8) Anisometric contractions: If the spectral technique is to be applied to dynamic contractions, which are
often of interest in biomechanical studies, then the median frequency should be calculated only when
the EMG signal is reasonably stationary and detected at the same phase during a repetitive dynamic
contraction.

Recommendations:
14) It is preferable to use the median frequency as the fatigue index calculated from the frequency spec-
trum of the EMG signal. The mean frequency could also be used.
15) When calculating spectral variables, limit the muscle contraction to one that is isometric, constant
force and greater than 30% MVC.
16) When comparing spectral variables among subjects, use the same electrode (especially with the same
inter-detection surfaces separation) and place it in a similar location with respect to the innervation
zones and the insertion of the tendon. (Surface anatomical landmarks are generally not appropriate
because the innervation zones may not be located in similar parts of the muscle among subjects.) Also
consider the effect of the subcutaneous tissue.

10) Is a single spectral variable, such as the median frequency, a sufficient representation for monitoring
the spectral modification of the EMG signal during a constant-force isometric contraction? (During a
sustained contraction, it is possible that the shape of the frequency spectrum changes so that the signal
does not undergo a simple frequency compression. If so, a variable that monitors the shape of the
spectrum will be required.)
11) What factors, other than conduction velocity, affect the shape of the MUAP during sustained constant-
force isometric contractions? (Consider the length of the depolarization zone and better document the
influence of K+ ions which accumulate outside the muscle membrane during sustained contractions.)
12) Can a reliable quantitative spectral fatigue index which is causally related only to biochemical and
physiological processes within the muscle be developed for force-varying isometric contractions and
for anisometric contractions? a) Is it possible to account for the effect of the conduction velocity of
progressively higher threshold motor units, and how variable is the change in the average conduction
velocity as higher threshold motor units are recruited? b) Is it possible to account for the influence of
the non-physiological and non- biochemical factors that affect the EMG signal during anisometric con-
tractions?
13) During a sustained contraction is the behavior of the spectral parameters of the EMG signal related to
the behavior of the force? Is the relationship causal? Does the behavior of the spectral parameters pre-
dict the behavior of the force? (These are basic questions that will provide an important linkage
between Electromyography and Biomechanics.)
14) Can the spectral modification be used to estimate the fiber type ratio in the muscle?
(This technique could serve as a non-invasive "electrical biopsy". It could be used to estimate the fiber
type composition of muscles as a function of exercise or to identify pathological and age-affected
fiber-type composition.)
15) Can variables of the EMG spectrum be used to estimate the average diameter of muscle fibers? (This
technique could serve to measure non-invasively muscle hypertrophy and atrophy.)



16) Is it possible to map electrically the surface above the muscle so that innervation zones, muscle fiber
length and orientation may be easily identified? (This technique would be useful in identifying the
location for placing the electrode and to study normal and abnormal muscle morphology.)


INTRODUCTION TO SURFACE EMG SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS

SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS
1) Differential Electrode Configuration:
• detection surfaces consisting of two parallel bars: each 1.0 cm long, 1-2 mm wide, 1.0 cm apart
• bandwidth of 20 - 500 Hz with a roll-off at least 12 dB/octave
• common mode rejection ratio > 80 dB
• noise < 2 uV rms ( 20 - 400 Hz)
• input impedance > 100 meg ohms
2) Locate the electrode on the midline of the muscle belly, between the myotendonous junction and the
nearest innervation zone, with the detection surface oriented perpendicularly to the length of the mus-
cle fibers. Use electrical stimulation or surface electrical mapping to locate the innervation zones.
3) Use the rms value of the signal for measuring the amplitude of the voluntarily elicited EMG signal.
4) Measure the activation time in all types of contractions.
5) Limit the resolution of the ON-OFF times to 10 ms when comparing among muscles and subjects.
6) Be sure that the signal originates from the muscle of interest by testing for crosstalk. Use the double
differential technique, the frequency spectrum technique or the multiple electrode technique.
7) A quantitative comparison of proportional relationship between the EMG signal and force should be
limited to well-regulated isometric contractions in which the joint being tested is constrained to limit
the torque contributions of muscles other than the one(s) of interest.
8) The force and the EMG signal are not monotonically related in an instantaneous sense. Analyses rely-
ing on an instantaneous relationship should treat the relationship as stochastic. To obtain a near-mono-
tonic relationship between the force and the EMG signal, filter the signal with a window width of 1 s.
9) When obtaining measurements from constant-force isometric contractions, confirm that there are no
motor units active on the verge of their threshold. This situation is to be avoided particularly in cases
where the force level is low and the amplitude of the marginally recruited MUAP is high.
10) Avoid anisometric contractions. If data from such contractions are to be analyzed quantitatively, use
contractions that have the least amount of shortening and the slowest velocity, and interpret the results
with care and caution.
11) If repetitive anisometric contractions must be analyzed, choose an epoch of data from a fixed portion
on the cycle of activity and monitor the signal parameters as the cycles progress.
12) When normalizing the amplitude of the EMG signal, do so at values less than 80% MVC. Above this
level, the EMG signal and the force (torque) are exceptionally unstable and do not provide a suitable
reference point.
13) Measure the MVC by choosing the greatest value of three consecutive attempts at reaching the maxi-
mal value, with a rest period of at least 2 min between contractions. Let the subject choose his/her own
force rate to reach maximal value. The posture of the subject should be similar if not identical to that
assumed during the actual test. Repeat this measurement each time the experimental conditions
change.
14) It is preferable to use the median frequency as the fatigue index calculated from the frequency spec-
trum of the EMG signal. The mean frequency could also be used.
15) When calculating spectral variables, limit the muscle contraction to one that is isometric, constant
force and greater than 30% MVC.
16) When comparing spectral variables among subjects, use the same electrode (especially with the same
inter-detection surfaces separation) and place it in a similar location with respect to the innervation


INTRODUCTION TO SURFACE EMG SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS

zones and the insertion of the tendon. (Surface anatomical landmarks are generally not appropriate
because the innervation zones may not be located in similar parts of the muscle among subjects.) Also
consider the effect of the subcutaneous tissue.


INTRODUCTION TO SURFACE EMG SUMMARY OF PROBLEMS FOR RESOLUTION

SUMMARY OF PROBLEMS FOR RESOLUTION
1) Elimination or substantial reduction of crosstalk from other muscles is required. Until means to do so
are available, a way to easily identify the presence of crosstalk signals is necessary. (This is an essen-
tial requirement for all applications of the surface EMG signal.)
2) An agreed-upon means for determining the ON-OFF times of a muscle activation is required.
3) Development of a surface detection means that would follow the movement of the muscle fibers. (This
approach would improve the stationarity of the signal and provide a rational basis for quantitatively
relating the detected EMG signal to the measured torque during anisometric contractions, although the
effects of force-length and inertial forces remain and require consideration.)
4) Development of means for on-line measurement of the stationarity of the surface EMG signal. (This
approach would provide a measure of the signal stationarity while the signal is being detected.)
5) Development of means by which the absolute force produced by a muscle may be meaningfully esti-
mated with an accuracy of +/- 5% directly from the surface EMG signal detected above a muscle.
Constant-force and force-varying isometric contractions should be addressed first. (This approach
would require new means for detecting the EMG signal.)
6) How do the muscle fibers transmit force throughout the muscle? a) When a muscle fiber contracts, is
the force transmitted longitudinally along the fibers or is it also transmitted radially via interconnec-
tions among the fibers? b) There is mounting evidence that in most muscles the fibers do not traverse
the length of the muscle. How is the force produced by a fiber transmitted to the tendon of the muscle?
7) Does a muscle generate force homogeneously throughout its volume? (This is a function of the homo-
geneity of the muscle tissues, the distribution of the fibers within a motor unit, the distribution of the
motor units within the volume of the muscle, and the architecture of the muscle attachment to the bone
or other tissues. This knowledge is particularly necessary when considering muscles which are wide
and short. In these cases the resultant force vector may alter its angle of action as a function of force
level. This knowledge would also be useful for refinements of biomechanical models.)
8) Description of the anisotropy and inhomogeneity of the muscle, fascia, fat and skin tissues. (This
knowledge would be useful to describe how the amplitude and frequency spectrum of the EMG signal
is altered by the tissues between the active fibers and the electrode.)
9) The refinement and further development of anatomically correct and detailed biomechanical models of
the musculoskeletal system. (Such models will enable the calculation of the force vectors and the
instantaneous center of rotation of the joints so that torques and forces may be calculated during
motion.)
10) Is a single spectral variable, such as the median frequency, a sufficient representation for monitoring
the spectral modification of the EMG signal during a constant-force isometric contraction? (During a
sustained contraction, it is possible that the shape of the frequency spectrum changes so that the signal
does not undergo a simple frequency compression. If so, a variable that monitors the shape of the
spectrum will be required.)
11) What factors, other than conduction velocity, affect the shape of the MUAP during sustained constant-
force isometric contractions? (Consider the length of the depolarization zone and better document the
influence of K+ ions which accumulate outside the muscle membrane during sustained contractions.)
12) Can a reliable quantitative spectral fatigue index which is causally related only to biochemical and
physiological processes within the muscle be developed for force-varying isometric contractions and
for anisometric contractions? a) Is it possible to account for the effect of the conduction velocity of
progressively higher threshold motor units, and how variable is the change in the average conduction
velocity as higher threshold motor units are recruited? b) Is it possible to account for the influence of


INTRODUCTION TO SURFACE EMG SUMMARY OF PROBLEMS FOR RESOLUTION

the non-physiological and non- biochemical factors that affect the EMG signal during anisometric con-
tractions?
13) During a sustained contraction is the behavior of the spectral parameters of the EMG signal related to
the behavior of the force? Is the relationship causal? a) Does the behavior of the spectral parameters
predict the behavior of the force? (These are basic questions that will provide an important linkage
between Electromyography and Biomechanics.)
14) Can the spectral modification be used to estimate the fiber type ratio in the muscle? (This technique
could serve as a non-invasive "electrical biopsy". It could be used to estimate the fiber type composi-
tion of muscles as a function of exercise or to identify pathological and age-affected fiber-type compo-
sition.)
15) Can variables of the EMG spectrum be used to estimate the average diameter of muscle fibers? (This
technique could serve to measure non-invasively muscle hypertrophy and atrophy.)
16) Is it possible to map electrically the surface above the muscle so that innervation zones, muscle fiber
length and orientation may be easily identified? (This technique would be useful in identifying the
location for placing the electrode and to study normal and abnormal muscle morphology.)


INTRODUCTION TO SURFACE EMG ISSUES FOR INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT

ISSUES FOR INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT
For the most part, the discussion in this paper has presented a cadre of issues that require consideration
when the detected EMG signal and the measured force (torque) are to be used to describe the state of an
active muscle. Many of the issues cannot be fully or substantially addressed with current knowledge; but,
fortunately some can. In these cases, recommendations have been presented and I put them forth to be
scrutinized by the scientific community at large. These recommendations are offered in the spirit of begin-
ning a broad-base accord for regulating the use of Surface Electromyography. They should also prove use-
ful for teaching the practitioner in the art and science of Surface Electromyography and for guarding
against misuses and abuses which lead to incorrect interpretations.
I propose that the following topics have been sufficiently studied and have had a general impact on Surface
Electromyography and Biomechanics and that they are appropriate for generating a consensus:
1) electrode configuration and dimensions
2) electrode placement and orientation
3) means for processing the EMG signal for amplitude and spectral analysis
4) means for determining the delay between force and the EMG signal
5) procedure for determining MVC
6) agreed upon procedures for establishing the repeatability of the EMG signal parameters: - among con-
tractions when the experimental conditions are fixed, - among contractions when the electrodes are
reapplied, - among muscles, - among subjects.
I propose that an international committee of respected, experienced and practicing researchers in the fields
of Surface Electromyography and Biomechanics be organized to refine and/or modify the recommenda-
tions and sanction their approval.


Introduction to Surface EMG in Biomechanics

Introduction to Surface EMG in Biomechanics

Recomendados

Recomendados

Mais conteúdo relacionado

Mais procurados

Mais procurados (20)

Destaque

Destaque (6)

Semelhante a Introduction to Surface EMG in Biomechanics

Semelhante a Introduction to Surface EMG in Biomechanics (20)

Mais de Universidad de Chile

Mais de Universidad de Chile (20)

Introduction to Surface EMG in Biomechanics